Manchester City were willing to make Mario Gotze the highest paid player IN THE WORLD before he committed himself to Bayern Munich.

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has agreed to move to Bayern at the end of the season.

BILD says City attempted to hijack the transfer with this incredible deal.

It is reported that City were prepared to offer the 20-year-old a £17milllion-a-season, five-year contract that would have seen him become the world's highest paid player - eclipsing the £325,000 currently earned by Samuel Eto'o at Russian side Anzhi.